I love sewing from retro and antique patterns, but they aren't without their challenges. For one thing, sizes have changed dramatically from then until now. Wear a size 6 or 8 now? With these patterns, that could be anywhere from a size 14 to 18 back then. Difficult to make those mental translations. And, when the mental translation doesn't compute, it carries on to the cutting and sewing.
Case in point...I found an early 1940s pattern last year while looking around at an antique store. It was a beautiful dress, albeit not quite in my size. When you're buying antique patterns, size is a matter of luck. Normally it will be either too large or too small. A dress form comes in incredibly handy in these situations.
I was determined to make the dress, which was a great style. So, out came the pattern, the pins, and the material. I kept in mind that I would need to cut the dress a bit larger due to the size. I measured and put on the dressform repeatedly. The dress itself turned out beautifully; it's a great design of a pattern. Unfortunately, I won't be wearing it--it simply doesn't fit. It looks fantastic on the dress form, so I guess when I need to dress her up, she'll have her own personal wardrobe. Oh, well...
Sewing teaches a person many things, including patience and humility. Nevertheless, what fun! I'll just remember, like a good carpenter, to measure twice and cut once.
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